Ruffling attachment for sewing machines



March 4, 1941.

v. J. SIGODA 2,233,752

RUFFLING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 31, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. We 70/? (ZS/600A TTORNEY.

V. J. SIGODA RUFFLING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES March 4, 1941.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1937 INVENTOR I V/CTORdS/GODA W ATTORNEY.

March 4-, V. 1GQ 2,233,752

RUFFLING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 31, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 4, 1941 PATENT OFFICE RUFFLING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Victor J. Sigoda, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Man- Sew Pinking Attachment Corp.,

New York,

N. Y., a. corporation of New York Application December 31, 1937, Serial No. 182,741

3 Claims.

This invention relates to rufiling attachments for sewing machines, and has for its general object and purpose to provide a simply constructed, durable and efliciently operating attachment of this character which is easily applicable to standard makes of sewing machines.

It is a more particular object of the invention to provide a ruflling attachment which is especially designed for the purpose of uniformly ruffling tape or ornamental braid as it is fed, with the fabric, in superimposed relation thereto to the vertically vibrating sewing machine needle whereby the rufiled tape is securely stitched to the fabric to produce what is commonly referred to in the garment industry as ruching. If desired the attachment may also be provided with means for guiding a relatively narrow ribbon into superimposed relation upon the ruflled tape to. be simultaneously secured therewith to the fabric.

It is another important object of my invention to provide an improved mounting and arrangement of the rufiling finger in cooperation with the tape guide and a stationary element projecting beyond the end of the guide and upon which the tape is pressed by said finger in its ruffiing movement so that" uniformity of the folds or ruffies is assured in the operation of the attachment. The provision of this support for the tape mounted below the tape guide also assures the equally efiicient operation of the device both upon the tape of a single thickness and when the opposite edges thereof are folded inwardly to provide tape of double thickness.

With the above and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the improved rufliing attachment for sewing machines and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of its several parts, as will hereinafter be more fully described, illustrated in' the accompanying drawings and subsequently incorporated in. the subjoined claims.

In the drawings wherein I have shown one simple and practical embodiment of my present invention and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the present invention as applied to one standard make of zig-zag stitch sewing machine.

Fig. 2.15 a top plan view partly in section, the needle bar guide of the machine head being omitted.

g.z3is a front and elevation.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the attachment. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the ruilling finger in full lines in its retracted 5 position relative to the tape guide and the cooperating tape supporting plate, and in dotted lines in its projected position relative to said guide and plate.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through 10 the machine bed and throat plate showing the relation between the tape guide and ruffling finger and the needle and presser-foot of the machine.

Fig. 8 is a plan view illustrating a section of 15 the ruffled, folded tape secured to the fabric.

Fig. 9 is a section similar to Fig. 7 showing the addition to the attachment of guide means for directing a narrow ribbon into superimposed relation upon the ruflled tape, and, 20

Fig. 10' is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the unfolded ruffled tape with the central ribbon stitched to the fabric.

For purposes of illustration in the accompanying drawings I have shown my improved rufiling 25 attachment as applied to the Singer zig-zag stitch sewing machine known in the trade as 10'7W1. This machine is provided at the lower side of the hollow arm 4 and adjacent to the pedestal end thereof with a transversely positioned eccentric shaft 5 for operating the needle jogging pitman 5 whereby the vertically vibrating needle, indicated at 1, is also transversely shifted relative to the path of movement of the fabric material beneath the presser foot 8. This 35 shaft 5 is driven from the longitudinally extending needle vibrating shaft 4' which is mounted in the usual manner in the arm 4 and driven from the belt wheel 9.

One end of the shaft 5 is provided with a 001- 40 lar, and in the application of my attachment to the machine, this collar is removed and the spiral worm gear Ill substituted therefor and securely fixed to the end of the shaft 5.

Upon one side of the arm 4 a plate or casting, 5 indicated at II, is securely fixed by means of the bolts II. To the inner side of this plate, at its opposite ends, a separate casting I2 is bolted or otherwise rigidly secured, and at its ends is formed with suitable bearings I3 in which 50 the ends of a longitudinally extending shaft l4 positioned at right angles to the shaft 5 are jour naled. Upon this shaft a spiral gear IS in mesh with the gear. Ill is secured.

Below the machine. head, the casting I2 is M also formed with the horizontally spaced bearings IS in which a rock shaft I1 is mounted. An arm |8 extends downwardly from one of the bearings l6 and terminates in bearing l9 for a stud shaft 20 on one end of a channeled guide arm 2|. To the other end of this guide arm one end of the pitman 22 is pivotally connected, said pitman at its other end being engaged with the eccentric 23 fixed to shaft l4.

One end of the shaft I! has a slotted arm 24 fixed thereto and the threaded pin of an adjustable block mounted in the channel of arm 29 extends through the slot in the arm 24 and receives the adjusting nut 25. This adjustable connection between the arm 24 and arm 2| operated by the pitman 22, whereby the extent of rocking motion of shaft I! may be varied as desired, is conventional practise and constitutes no essential part of the present invention.

To the other of the bearings It, a downwardly extending arm 26 is adjustably connected by means of the set screw 21. This arm at its lower end is formed with a horizontally disposed foot 28 upon which the flattened, tubular, longitudinally tapering tape guide 29 is removably secured. The lower end of the arm 26 is positioned at a suitable distance in advance of the needle 1 and is sufficiently spaced above the machine bed so that the fabric material may freely move therebetween while the tape is drawn through the tubular guide 29. This guide at its rear end or in the direction of movement of the material, is relatively narrow and is formed with a longitudinally extending slot therein as indicated at 30, to slidably receive one end of a ruffling finger 3|. The other end of this finger isfixed to a bearing 32 journaled for rocking movement on one end of a shaft 33 which is fixed at its other end in the lower end of an arm 34, the upper end of which is secured to the rock shaft IT. A coil spring 35 on the shaft 33 yieldingly resists rocking motion of bearing 32 in one direction and urges the end of the ruffling finger downwardly through the slot 39 of the tape guide. The finger 3| thereby presses the tape downwardly upon the free end of a supporting plate 49, the other end of which is securely fixed to the foot 28 of arm 28. The plate 49 at its free end has an extension 49 of substantially the same width as the slot 30 in guide 29, said extension projecting beyond the guide and terminating at the rear of the needle 1 and closely adjacent to the surface of the throat plate 36.

It will of course, be understood that the machine is provided with the usual throalt plate 36 having the needle opening 37 and with which the four-motion feed dog 38 is associated for intermittently feeding the fabric over'said throat plate and beneath the presser-foot 8. The ornamental tape or braid is fed, with the fabric material in superimposed relation upon the latter, through the tubular guide 29. It will be understood that different forms of these guides may be interchangeably mounted on the arm 26 to receive tapes of various widths and to either fold the opposite side edge portions inwardly as the tape moves through the guide or to maintain the same in a fiat unfolded condition as the tape is engaged by the ruiiling finger 3|.

In the operation of my rufiling attachment, and as will be more particularly noted from reference to Fig, 6 of the drawings, as the tape moves through the guide 29, during each downward stroke of the needle I the shaft I1 is rocked through the connections with'th'e eccentric 23 to retract the finger 3| so that the tape will be gripped at the inner end of slot 30 between the free end of the spring pressed finger 3| and the end of the spring plate 40, In the upward stroke of the needle, and as the fabric material is fed over the throat plate, the rocking movement of shaft I1 is reversed and finger 3| is moved forwardly relative to the plate 40 thereby forming folds or ruffles in the tape. When said finger moves beyond the free end of the plate 40, it yieldingly presses the folded tape downwardly upon the fabric. At this time the needle which has been transversely shifted carries the thread downwardly through the folded 0r rufiled section of the tape and the underlying fabric as the finger 3| is retracted. These operations are repeated so as to thereby form in the tape uniformly spaced rufiles or folds in the zig-zag stitching operations of the needle. The fixed supporting plate 40 cooperating with the downwardly pressing finger 3|, obviates any relative movement between the folded tape and said finger after the fold or rufile has been formed in the tape and, after passing beyond the end of the guide 29, the downward pressure of the finger upon the folded tape is maintained until the needle has penetrated and securely stitched the tape to the fabric. It will be understood that the line of vertical movement of the needle alternates on opposite sides of the end of the rufiling finger 3| so that there is no interference by said finger with the free operation of the needle.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings, I have shown the rufiled tape 4| secured to the fabric 42 by the zigzag stitching 43. In this instance, the side edge portions of the tape, as it moves through the guide 29, are folded over so that said tape assumes the form of a flattened tube When stitched to the fabric, the under-folded edges thereof being each securely attached to the fabric by the zig-zag stitching 43. i

In Fig. 10 of the drawings, I have shown the ruiiled tape 44 of a single thickness or without the inwardly folded side edge portions. Upon this rufiled tape, a relatively narrow ribbon 45 of contrasting color is superimposed, said tape and ribbon both being secured to the fabric 46 by the single line of zig-zag stitching 41. As shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, a suitable guide 48 is applied to the arm 26 for the purpose of guiding, or directing the ribbon 45 into position upon the rufiled tape 44, as each ruffle is projected from the guide 29 by the ruflling finger 3| and beyond the end of said guide to needle 1.

From the foregoing description, the construction, and manner of operation of my improved ruiiling attachment will be clearly understood. It will be appreciated that I have devised a very simply constructed device of this character which will be positive and eflicient in its operation and is readily applicable to the standard Singer zigthe various elements is concerned. Manifestly,

the essential features of my presentimprovement might also be exemplified in numerous other alternative structural forms. Accordingly, the privilege is reserved of resorting to all such legitimate mechanical changes therein as may be fairly comprehended within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An accessory for sewing machines comprising a support adapted to be secured to one side of a sewing machine armin pendant relation thereto and having a vertical side wall spaced from said arm and a part to extend transversely beneath the arm to the opposite side thereof, ruflling mechanism mounted on the latter part of the support, a power transmitting shaft journalled in the support at the inner side of said side wall and having means for operative connection with an operating element of the sewing machine, and actuating connections between said shaft and the rufiling mechanism.

2. A ruflling attachment for sewing machinescomprising a supporting casting adapted to be secured to a sewing machine arm, an arm laterally adjustable on said casting, and means for securing the same in adjusted position, a tape guide carried by said arm, a yieldable tape supporting member fixed to said arm and projecting beyond the egress end of said tape guide, an oscillatory arm mounted on said casting, and a yieldable ruffling finger carried by the latter arm for reciprocating movement above the tape guide and yieldably cooperating at one of its ends with said yieldable supporting member to uniformly ruffle the tape and move the individual ruffles beyond said supporting member and upon a fabric to be stitched thereto.

3. A rufliing attachment for sewing machines comprising as a unit assembly a bracket, a shaft carried by the bracket, a rufliing blade operated by said shaft and carried by the bracket, an operating arm secured to the shaft, an operating bar secured to said arm by a connection adjustable longitudinally of the arm to vary the throw of the ruffling blade, an eccentric crank adapted for mounting in a bearing in said bar and also adapted for connection with the main shaft of a sewing machine, and means for mounting the bracket with the elements thereon as a unit assembly on the head of said sewing machine with the milling blade in operative position in front of the sewing machine needle.

VICTOR J. SIGOD-A. 

